Council updates Local Law to reflect modern standards and align with statewide practises

These proposed changes aim to align with other Victorian councils, ensuring consistency with current legislation, and reflecting community expectations.

One of the main changes is an update to the list of fines. Since the Community Local Law was first introduced, the value of a penalty unit has gone up. To keep fines fair and reasonable, and to make sure they still act as a deterrent, several individual fines have been reduced.

The amended local law also aligns Wellington Shire Council with the majority of other Victorian councils by removing a clause that previously restricted access to Council toilet and changing room facilities based on gender. This change supports the rights of transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse individuals to use facilities that correspond with their identity and reflects the principles of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.

Retaining the clause exposes Council to legal risk as it does not comply with the principles and intent of the Equal Opportunity and Local Government acts”.

“We recognise that not everyone will agree with this change, and that some people hold strong views on gender identity,” Wellington Shire Council Mayor, Scott Rossetti said.

“However, this amendment ensures our Local Laws comply with anti-discrimination legislation and upholds the legal rights of all individuals.”

“These updates ensure our local law remains current, inclusive and legally sound,” said Mayor Rossetti.

“Whether it’s removing outdated clauses or clarifying rules around how people behave and act in public spaces, we’re making sure our regulations reflect how people live today.”

Other changes include:

• Expansion of the clause relating to smoking to explicitly include vaping, ensuring that any designated smoke-free areas would prohibit both traditional tobacco products and e-cigarettes.
• A correction to the number of cats that can be kept on some properties.

The amended Local Law will be released for community consultation for 28 days, starting from Monday 30 June. To view the proposed amendments and share your feedback, visit https://your.wellington.vic.gov.au.

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